Spool

ABSTRACT

A spool suitable for receiving windings of wire or the like, the spool having a center core formed of a paperboard material, first and second end flanges secured to opposite ends of the center core, the flanges being formed of a plastic material, each flange having at least one circumferentially extending solid portion and an inner portion adjacent to the inner core, the spool having a plurality of sinuous members extending between the solid portion and the outer portion. There is also disclosed an embodiment wherein the flange is substantially solid with a circumferentially extending apertures being formed in the center core.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to spools and more particularly, relatesto improvements in spools used for receiving wire and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrical, communication and other industrial cable, as well as wirerope and the like are typically wound on large spools or reels forstorage, delivering and dispensing of the product. Both returnablespools and non returnable spools are known in the art.

Returnable spools are commonly fabricated of wood which has been treatedwith a preservative to resist weathering and deterioration. Reels madeof metallic material such as steel are also known and these too areoften painted or otherwise treated so as to provide protection againstrusting. These spools suffer from several disadvantages including thefact that despite the attempts to protect them from the elements, theyare still subject to deterioration and therefore require constantmaintenance. Wood spools are prone to splintering and breakage, andnails and the like projecting from such reels pose a safety hazard andalso risk damaging the insulation of electrical or communication cablebeing carried. Wood spools also tend to soak up rain water which canincrease the weight by as much as 50%. The dry weight marked on thespool is then meaningless making it impossible for the user to determinehow much cable remains on the spool since this determination is usuallymade by weight.

Spools made of plastic are also known in the art and one such spool isillustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,085. Plastic spools are advantageousin that they are substantially impervious to the elements and requirelittle or no maintenance and do not damage the cable being carried.However, plastic spools have been limited in size and load capacity andare subject to breakage, particularly in cold weather.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spool which isresistant to the elements and which spool can be recycled.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spool whichovercomes the deficiencies of prior art spools and which is relativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided aspool comprising a center core, the center core being formed of apaperboard material, first and second end flanges secured to oppositeends of the center core, the flanges being formed of a plastic material,each flange having at least one circumferentially extending solidportion, an inner portion adjacent the inner core, a plurality ofsinuous members extending between the solid portion and the innerportion.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a spool comprising a center core, the center core having aninner cylindrical wall and an outer cylindrical wall, first and secondflanges secured to opposite ends of the center core, and at least onerow of circumferentially extending apertures formed in the outercylindrical wall.

In the first embodiment, the center core is formed as a singlecircumferential member of a suitable paperboard material. The paperboardmaterial is utilized for its weight and furthermore, it can be recycled.

In this embodiment, the flanges are provided with a flexing portioncomprised of a plurality of sinuous ribs. This arrangement permits theminimization of damage if and when the spool is dropped.

In the second embodiment, the core and flanges are made of a suitableplastic material. The center core, in this embodiment, comprises aninner cylindrical wall and an outer cylindrical wall. At least two rowsof cylindrically extending slots and slits are provided to provide theflexibility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made tothe accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a flange member according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the flange member from the oppositeside;

FIG. 3 is a side exploded view of the spool;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the locking of the center core and flangeprior to being inserted;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 wherein the center core has beenlocked into position;

FIG. 6 is a side exploded view of a further version of a spool accordingto the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an end view of a still further version of a spool flangeaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 7A is an end view of the spool flange of FIG. 7 as seen from theopposite side thereof;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a portion of the rim of the flange;

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the spool with one of the flangesbeing disconnected;

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view illustrating the connection of thespool and flanges;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a pair of stacked spools according to afurther embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a detailed view of a portion of the flange of the embodimentof FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a plurality of flanges stacked upon eachother; and

FIG. 15 is a detailed view of the interlocking of the stacked flanges.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference charactersthereto, there is illustrated in FIG. 3 a spool which is generallydesignated by reference numeral 10.

Spool 10 comprises a center core generally designated by referencenumeral 12, a first side flange 14, and a second side flange 16.

Center core 12 is comprised of a cylindrical wall 20 having a first end22 with apertures 24 extending circumferentially thereabout. At a secondend 26, there are also provided a plurality of circumferentiallyextending apertures 28.

Center core 12 is formed of a suitable paperboard or plastic materialhaving the desired characteristics of strength and weather resistance.Any such materials are known in the art.

First side flange 14 and second side flange 16 are substantiallyidentical and thus only one will be described herein. As may be seen,first side flange 14 is circular in side configuration and includes anouter thickened rim 32. Inwardly of rim 32 there is provided an outerportion 34 which is solid in nature with finger apertures 36 beingprovided therein.

Inwardly of outer portion 34 is a flexing portion generally designatedby reference numeral 38 and which is comprised of a plurality of sinuousribs 40 each having a generally S-shaped configuration. Sinuous ribs 40terminate at an inner portion 42.

As may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, on the inner side of first side flange14, there are provided an outer wall 44 and an inner wall 46 whichtherebetween define a channel 48. Within channel 48 and extendingoutwardly from inner wall 46 are a plurality of protrusions 50. As maybe better seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, each protrusion 50 has a thinner end 52and a thicker end 54 and terminates in a flat end wall 56. As best seenin FIG. 4, outer wall 44 has a thicker portion generally designated byreference numeral 58, to help paper or plastic core to come back underwall 56.

Referring to FIG. 1, first side flange 14 includes a center wall portion59 which is provided with circular apertures 60 and rectangularapertures 62 located where protrusions 50 extend from inner wall 46.

In assembling the center core to the side flanges, cylindrical wall 20is inserted into channel 48. Pressure is exerted until protrusions 50are aligned and fit within apertures 28. The thicker portion 54 of outerwall 44 and thicker portion 58 exert pressure on cylindrical wall 20 toensure a tighter locking of the protrusions 50 within apertures 24.

The presence of flexing portion 38 helps minimize damage to the sideflange 14 as it permits a bending motion if the spool 10 is dropped.Furthermore, the flexing portion 38 permits the outward movement ofouter portion 34 when a cable is being removed from center core 12proximate the side flange.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a center core 112 has a plurality ofapertures 170 formed therein and extending through the length of thecylindrical wall 120. These apertures permit the insertion of the spoolinto an autoclave. This is useful when some types of wire need aconditioning or curing at high temperature and high humidity.

Turning to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 13, there is illustrated thereina spool generally designated by reference numeral 210.

Spool 210 is comprised of a center core 212 and a pair of flanges 214,214′. As flanges 214, 214′ are substantially identical, only one will bedescribed in detail herein.

Center core 212 comprises an inner wall 220 and an outer cylindricalwall 222. As will be noted, there is a first set of apertures 224 and asecond set of apertures 226 which extend through both inner wall 220 andouter wall 222. These apertures are provided for the purpose ofreceiving the leading end of a cable to be wound on spool 210.

Turning to flange 214, there is provided an L-shaped center flange wall228 which includes inwardly extending leg portion 230. Leg portion 230is designed to receive inner wall 220.

Within center flange wall 228, there is provided a central aperture 232as well as a plurality of smaller circumferential apertures 234.

An outer flange wall 236 likewise has circumferential apertures 238formed therein.

Extending about the periphery of center flange wall 228 are a pluralityof projections 240 and corresponding recesses 242. Projections 240 andrecesses 242 are provided for purposes of nesting of adjacent flanges.Similarly, there are provided projections 244 and recesses 246 on theouter rim of outer flange wall 236.

As may be best seen in FIG. 11, at the point of juncture of centerflange wall 228 and outer flange wall 236, there are provided a pairsloping wall segments 248 and 250. Formed between sloping wall segments248 and 250 is a recess 252. A recess opening 254 provides accessthereto.

Formed at the end of outer wall 222 of center core 212 is a projection258. Projection 258 has a step 260 formed thereon. It will also be notedthat recess 252 has a retaining tab 256 extending partially over therecess. As may be seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, when projection 258 isinserted within recess 252, retaining tab 256 will engage with step 260to lock outer wall 222 in position.

Outer wall 222 of center core 212 is provided with a plurality of slots262. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two circumferential rowsof slots 262 at either end of outer wall 222. There are also provided aplurality of C or U-shaped slits 268. In the illustrated arrangement,slits 268 are arranged about each end of slots 266. A combination ofslots 266 and slits 268 provides a flexibility to the center core 212 tolimit damage thereto when spool 210 is dropped or subjected to otherphysical stresses. Naturally, other shaped arrangements could beutilized.

A still further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 12to 15 and reference will now be had thereto.

In this embodiment, the center core is identical to that of theembodiment of FIGS. 7 to 11 and hence will not be described herein. Thedifference in this embodiment is that flange 314 has a plurality oftongues 370 formed therein. As may be seen, each tongue 370 is formed toextend slightly outwardly. In so doing, it will act to prevent movementof the spools when they are stacked. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, theflanges may be nested for shipping with tongues 370 providing aninterlocking arrangement as well as the nesting of walls 348, 350 withinrecess entrance 354.

It will be understood that the above described embodiments are forpurposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A spool comprising: a center core, said center core being formed of apaperboard material; first and second end flanges secured to oppositeends of said center core, said flanges being formed of a plasticmaterial, each flange having at least one circumferentially extendingsolid portion, an inner portion adjacent said inner core, a plurality ofsinuous members extending between said solid portion and said innerportion.
 2. The spool of claim 1 wherein said center core has a line ofcircumferential apertures formed in each end thereof, said first andsecond end flanges having a wall extending perpendicularly thereto, saidwall having a plurality of protrusions thereon, said protrusionsengaging said circumferentially extending apertures.
 3. The spool ofclaim 2 wherein said flange has an inner wall and an outer wallextending substantially perpendicularly thereto, said inner and outerwalls defining a channel.
 4. A spool comprising: a center core, saidcenter core having an inner cylindrical wall and an outer cylindricalwall; first and second flanges secured to opposite ends of said centercore; and at least one row of circumferentially extending aperturesformed in said outer cylindrical wall.
 5. The spool of claim 4 whereinthere are provided at least two rows of said circumferentially extendingapertures.
 6. The spool of claim 5 wherein said circumferentiallyextending apertures are elongated slots.
 7. The spool of claim 6 whereinsaid elongated slots extend in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal axis of said center core.
 8. The spool of claim 7 furtherincluding a plurality of generally C-shaped cuts, said C-shaped cutsbeing intermediate said elongated slots.
 9. The spool of claim 5 whereinsaid at least two rows of circumferentially extending slots comprise arow proximate each flange.
 10. The spool of claim 9 wherein said centercore is formed of a plastic material.
 11. The spool of claim 10 whereinsaid flanges are formed of a plastic material.
 12. The spool of claim 9wherein each of said slots has a C-shaped slit at either end thereof.13. The spool of claim 4 wherein said flanges include a plurality ofoutwardly extending tongues formed therein.
 14. The spool of claim 4wherein said flanges have at least one row of circumferentiallyextending projections with intervening recesses such that theprojections and recesses of one flange will engage with the projectionsand recesses of an adjacent flange when stacked.
 15. The spool of claim9 wherein said inner wall and said outer wall each have apertures formedtherein to receive a leader from a cable to be wound on the spool.